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St. Jude students visit Harrisburg

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Kistler students participate in science program

<p>WYOMING &#8212; Walking onto the grounds of the Swetland Homestead this weekend is as close as one will get to stepping back in time to the 1860s.</p><p>The Luzerne County Historical Society along with the 143rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Civil War Re-enacting Company A teamed up for the monthly &#8220;Civil War Weekend&#8221; at the Swetland Homestead this Saturday.</p><p>&#8220;We try to meet at least once a month,&#8221; said Captain Peter Wolf Cangemi. &#8220;We set up and it&#8217;s genuine camp life. We just want to remember the regional boys who died back then.&#8221;</p><p>This weekend&#8217;s theme was inspired by the games common to the era, such as Mumbly Peg, checkers, &#8220;Game of Bases&#8221; and period-style cornhole.</p><p>Drill demonstrations from the 143rd Company A were also featured, as well as tours of the homestead hosted by Mark Riccetti of the Luzerne County Historical Society in period garb, acting as none other than George Swetland.</p><p>&#8220;This site is so extremely rich with history,&#8221; said Riccetti. &#8220;We open our doors to the public to give them a taste of what life in their area was like back in the Civil War era.&#8221;</p><p>The tour features a walk through the historic homestead, as well as a brief lesson in Civil War-era medicine from William Brennan, the resident surgeon of the 143rd Company A.</p><p>&#8220;I got involved about a year ago,&#8221; said Brennan. &#8220;I was initially the medical steward; however, when we lost our previous surgeon, I stepped up to the first lieutenant role.&#8221;</p><p>The Civil War weekend continues from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Swetland Homestead.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Bruce Geiger smokes a clay pipe as he reads a book outside his tent at the Civil War encampment held at the Swetland Homestead in Wyoming on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_civilwar1_faa.jpg</photo0><caption0>Bruce Geiger smokes a clay pipe as he reads a book outside his tent at the Civil War encampment held at the Swetland Homestead in Wyoming on Saturday. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_civilwar2_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Austin Neagle, 15, of Wyalusing posts the flag in an old stump at the Civil War encampment at the Swetland Homestead in Wyoming on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_civilwar2_faa.jpg</photo1><caption1>Austin Neagle, 15, of Wyalusing posts the flag in an old stump at the Civil War encampment at the Swetland Homestead in Wyoming on Saturday. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_civilwar3_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Katie Hummer and Jesse Holtzman play a game of cornhole Saturday at the Swetland Homestead in Wyoming. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_civilwar3_faa.jpg</photo2><caption2>Katie Hummer and Jesse Holtzman play a game of cornhole Saturday at the Swetland Homestead in Wyoming. </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Civil War-era games featured at monthly event</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Rachel Holly</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>The Times Leader newsroom may be reached at 570-829-7242 or on Twitter @TLnews.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Encampment gives public taste of 1860s